Public Libraries
Brick and mortar ones that cater to no particular taste is what I reference here.
Where over the years, where it was not worth noting a face in the crowd, until the crowd became so small it is impossible not to notice.
While private and technical libraries are still viable these days, when was the last time you visited a Public Library?
For the paranoid, even if agent Mike reads over your shoulder, how likely is it that he would even understand the words? 
| 13 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Time expired | |
| 1 Month | |
6 (46%) |
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| 6 Months | |
1 (8%) |
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| 1 Year | |
2 (15%) |
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| 3 Years | |
1 (8%) |
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| 5 Years | |
1 (8%) |
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| 5+ Years | |
2 (15%) |
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| Other | |
0 (0%) |
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| 0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided. | |
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Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll |
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= new reply since forum marked as read
I work at a library! 
As such, I see many people who come to the library on a daily or weekly basis. Some are retired who want to be some place safe and comfortable to read the daily paper or weekly magazines - for free. Some are unemployed who come to use the computers to search for and apply to jobs. Some are teachers who order multiple copies of books for their classrooms; at least one is a school librarian from a nearby school district that has pretty much cut their school library out of the school budget. Some are parents who bring their kids for our reading and early childhood educational programs. Many are kids who need some place safe to go after school and over the summer. Many are people who come for the free movies, music cds, and downloadable emedia (including ebooks).
My branch is in a fairly upscale part of the city, and we are the busiest branch in the system. We offer free adult programming such as cooking classes, local history presentations, bicycle maintenance, crafts, book clubs, financial planning guidance, how to start a business lectures, English as Second Language classes, and music presentations, to name a few. During the summer our children's programming includes visits from magicians, a local bird of prey rescue group, story tellers, crafts for ages 5-18, and a reading program that offers prizes like tickets to the local Six Flags, professional soccer games, gift cards, iPods, and a grand prize of a laptop. HOAs & other community groups rent out our meeting room for the bargain basement price of $25/hr.
Our Central library is a depository for federal documents and houses the largest collection of western history in the country. One of our branches holds the largest collection of western African American history. These special collections are invaluable for people conducting genealogy, labor, religious, and racial research.
You are mistaken if you think public libraries are no longer viable in the 21st century. They are invaluable - though sadly underfunded and unappreciated in many communities in the country. That's out of ignorance - a modern public library is as relevant today as it was to its time a century ago.
The internet gets blocked, shut down, or scrambled.
We should maintain our book collections along with all the documents or papyrus scrolls, or whatever. We've already lost way too many precious historical references. Library of Alexandria, Museum of Ancient history in Baghdad, Kabul National Museum of Antiquity...
Tax dollars for that purpose are surely not wasted.
Or is this just Captain Obvious reporting in? 
you never have to leave home. But you can get free movie rentals, free cd rentals, free novels, free downloadable ebooks. Hell, you can get free wifi at most these days. So you can spend your hard-earned money twice by buying these things via Netflix, iTunes, and amazon and also via your taxes at the library, or you can just go to the library.
An edit: I read your edit! You old devil's advocate, you!! 
